because men would have no plea or excuse before the Lord. It was not Pilate’s washing of his hands, and ⟨saying⟩, ‘I am guiltless of the blood of this just man,’ that could wash away the guilt of Christ’s blood from his conscience;— Pilate’s conscience told him, that Christ was a just man, and that he saw no cause of death in him at all, Luke xxiii. 24. And ⟨yet⟩ cursed Pilate, contrary to the light of ⟨his⟩ own conscience, delivered the Lord of ⟨life⟩ into the hands of bloody men to be ⟨crucified⟩, and so brought the guilt of his blood upon his own soul.
He that will not endure conscience to ⟨reprove⟩ him for his sins, certainly loves to go to hell without controul; and he that will not endure conscience to tell him of ⟨his⟩ sins here, shall, whether he will or not, ⟨suffer⟩ sufficient torment for his sins here- ⟨after⟩; for an evil conscience is an hell to ⟨the⟩ soul here, and shall be the hell of hells ⟨hereafter.⟩
Now then, if there be such a thing in ⟨man⟩ as conscience, and that this conscience ⟨shall⟩ either justify or condemn him, then ⟨let⟩ every man take heed how he orders his ⟨conversation⟩ in the world. Do not give ⟨leave⟩ to yourselves to think, say or do ⟨anything⟩, but what you are willing to own ⟨before⟩ the Lord at the last day. Therefore,
